How Thermal Imaging Is Used For Commercial Roof Inspections

Your roof is one of the most important aspects of your commercial building. It keeps out the elements and protects the people and equipment inside. However, nothing was meant to last forever, and as the roof gets older or is exposed to natural elements, including inclement weather, it will wear out.

Getting it inspected on a regular basis is the best way to find and take care of any issues that might arise before they become major problems. Just because your roof looks fine on the surface, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t issues you can’t see. Having a professional take a look is your best option.

History of Thermal Imaging for Roof Inspections

Professional roofers have the ability to find hidden damage using advanced technology to help with the process. Thermal imaging has been used since the 1970s and can assist in determining if your building needs an entirely new roof or repairs to damaged areas.

How Does the Roofer Read the Thermal Images?

When using thermal imaging to inspect a roof, it will show what is happening beneath the roof’s surface. Many times, this can’t be accessed without removing the material that’s already there. It does this by using different colors. In general, cool colors are portrayed as blues and purples, while warm colors are yellows, oranges, and red.

What do these mean? If the roof is showing warm colors, these are the areas that are holding in the heat from the sun. The brighter these colors are, the more moisture exists underneath the membrane. This is not a good thing, and it means that your roof will need some work.

Benefits of Using Thermal Imaging

Using thermal imaging to assess commercial roof damage can be cost effective as well as reduce the amount of time the process takes. It is also incredibly accurate. A roofer using thermal imaging is really good at detecting hidden problems, and it’s not invasive. It also allows the roofer to accurately plan the repair or replacement project and eliminates any unnecessary steps from the process.

To ensure that the roofer gets a good read, there are some conditions that have to be met. These include the following:

The roof has to be dry and clean

The roof has to be low-sloped or flat

It needed to have been sunny or warm during the day

There can be very little or no wind

The night has to be clear

If you’re thinking it’s about time to get your commercial roof inspected, having a company that can use thermal imaging can be beneficial. It’s the best way to find hidden moisture on your roof and give the professional the information they need to repair your roof correctly and cost effectively.